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Continuing SALE I’ve had on for the past one and half years.

Except, not saying ‘Retirement Sale’ now, as Charlie’s taking over in the nearish future…
I removed the previous sale signs a few months ago, but have continued selling at reduced prices, so I thought I’d better let everyone know.
Since the sale started I’ve sold the shop over many times. Two storerooms don’t exist anymore.
So why not continue…
Always best to make an appointment, usually in 11ish – 5ish Mon – Sat.
Darren from Luke Signs applied new sale sign today, fantastic service as always thanks Darren.

Some of my contemporary pieces in my home and in my showroom (Video)

Mixing 16th – 21st century furnishings and art is so very enjoyable to me.
Since arriving a week ago I’ve already sold 1/3 of my shipment.
Occasional tables, Wall sconces, glass clocks and lamps, mirrors.
Also selling this magnificent set of dining chairs.
Sold the chestnut farmhouse table to Southern Highlands last week.
That’s probably why I loved re dressing The Johnston Collection 2010
(see photos on my website under – media)
as William Johnston also used his homes as showrooms.
Such a great part of my business.

Allpress Apartment – Photographed by Russell Winnell

One of Australia’s leading photographers Russell Winnell spent almost the entire day photographing my apartment.

 

We work well together, playing Bowie, Frank Ocean, Kanye, The Dance Exponents etc… great music always makes the environment even better!

 

Fantastic to see the results and look forward to seeing my article published in a magazine soon.

 

Reflections of beauty from the mirrors throughout my showroom.

Notice how many styles blend in the first photo.
18th century English oak low dresser.
19th century French silver gilt on black cushion mirror.
Italian style glass ball on brass lamp.
Italian Majolica jardinier.
19th century Japanese Imari charger, resting on a 19th century Persian wide kilim hall rug.
19th century English William & Mary style yew & walnut chest on stand.
The side of English Queen Anne walnut dining chair.
All looking so beautiful together…

More items in my showroom containing flowers.

From carvings to paintings, to painted ceramics, clocks sets, coffee tables, 17th century botanicals, Dutch hanging marquetry inlaid wall cabinet, Italian Murano chandeliers.

19th century English Parian ware jugs in off whites and blues/ floral painted jugs/First half 19th century English masons jugs,

Many items in my showroom contain flowers.

From carvings to paintings, to painted ceramics, clocks, even a delightful green tea cup and saucer once owned by the most beautiful woman in the world 👩🏻.

Sun flower paintings/19th century landscape oil painting/Jasmine in glass vase/flowers in vase in an old advertisement photo/floral carving in oak to the top of French pollard oak poudreuse/19th century English Parian ware jugs in off whites and blues/ floral painted jugs/first half 19th century English masons jugs and mugs/English Deco chinoiserie clock/Italian Noveau Majolica vase-jardinière.

A day in the life of an antique dealer.

Had to bank a cheque this morning, sold a particularly nice small sized Regency style chest of drawers yesterday, several of my customers still use cheques.
Drove down to Acland St to deposit and had a coffee at Abbey Road Cafe.
My friend the prettiest, grooviest, waitress in Melbourne, Simonè, always brings me the perfect coffee.
Then to the shop and fed my sweet pigeon mates some breakfast.
Into workshop to check over this very nice first quarter 20th century Australian Blackwood Art Nouveau hall stand.
Sonya & Andrew will be very pleased.
Then a couple popped into my shop with a very nice mid century retro pastel nude, a vintage Chinese tray and two ceramic birds, so I purchased all.
I quickly rearranged a dresser rack, adding the ceramic birds.
Next, Thom my light restorer arrives with seven of my eleven newly arrived Italian and French chandeliers.
We placed the Pink Murano straight into the window and another mid century Italian retro into the other. Then the other five where we could…
All this until not long past noon! I’m still trying to properly rearrange the showroom as been so busy, as usual just had lunch 3:30pm, not complaining.
Over the next few days I’ll photograph my new lights and once all restored and hung, I’ll ask Russell Winnell Photographer to photograph all of my new lighting.
Heading home around 6:00pm, looking forward to summer as always get to enjoy the sunset.
Often visit customers on way home to deliver something or advise on restoration or rearranging, sizing down etc… I’m clearly not an early morning person.
So that’s today finished. Maybe I’ll walk down to The Espy for a light dinner.
Maybe I’ll pour a beautiful Plymouth Sloe Berry Gin onto a giant cube of ice and reflect on how lucky I am to have such wonderful family, friends, customers and that fantastic morning coffee.

A few random snaps of the back room of shop.

I could spend all day just photographing if I was able.

From large contemporary art 2014 to my favourite botanical artist, Hendrick Draakestein 1686.
18th century French fruitwood dough bin, with 19th century English Parian Ware Jugs.
Italian Murano vase, on stunning faded cherry wood cross banded partners desk of small proportions, a set of 19th century watercolours of birds, a perfect 18th century French oak buffet deux corps, with English Hepplewhite inspiration from the same period, The decorative 18th century French chestnut armoire (sat in bedroom as our robe for decades) the largest collection of 18th/19th century English tilt top wine tables, plus many more scattered around showroom and in my storeroom. Another upright French elm farmhouse table, a rare English elm faded elm bureau, French 19th century solid pollard oak poudreuse (Rare)

Come in and explore my interesting pieces…

Video below.

The beauty of plants and flowers in your home.

I recently replaced the plants to my jardinier in living/dining room. They’re quite perfect, but very hard to photograph.

I have many plants inside and outside my apartment, most belonged to my mother Nina, so I love having them around.

I look after my plants even compliment every now and then..
The flowers I regularly place on my dining table “interlopers” to the indoor plants are also well maintained, trimmed and re watered, to last as long as possible.
Thought I’d take a few quick snaps this morning and post.

Flowers and antiques blend beautifully ✨

Ongoing Retirement Sale

Two out of three storerooms SOLD!

My son, Charlie will be joining the business next year and eventually taking over.

It’s wonderful having his fresh energy involved.

UP TO 50% OFF all stock.

Come in and see the rarest pieces in Australia!

Charlie’s second restoration job.

18th century English country oak gate-leg table.

Charlie restored this table for Behruz, where it sits in their entrance foyer to the centre of a stunning rug.

Charlie’s worked with Amir, Omid and all their wonderful staff for some time now, until he departs for Thailand later this month.

This is Charlie’s ‘thank you’ to the boys

Georgianised 19th century English oak long chest

This week we finally completed a chest of drawers I purchased around a decade ago.
I’m so glad I waited, as now looking perfect in my bedroom.
I Georgianised a 19th century English oak long chest (Victorian)
Originally had fancy shaped Victorian mouldings to the top and base. With turned rosewood handles, diamond shaped rosewood inlaid escutcheons and rosewood drawer cockbeading.
Finished off with fancy turned feet.
I could envision the way this would look with a full facelift.
I’ve actually never seen such a chest of drawers, in 18th or 19th century English country oak.
We removed all the above mentioned and replaced with classic Georgian lines.
I left the chest in storage for seven years, for the new oak to oxidise, not too much colouring was required.
We also oak feathered all the shrinkage splits to the top and sides.
Last week I softly cleaned back the finish, if over done the piece is destroyed!
Re sealed and re wax finished.
Then Eddie replaced the handles and escutcheons with the best English Georgian style brass work.
Jack gave a final wax and Bobs your Aunty!
Couldn’t be any happier with the result.
Specialising in rare and unique English and French country furniture, I don’t condone alterations or over restoring at all.
But when a chance to convert such an unattractive Victorian chest into a delightful Georgian style chest comes along, I fully approve!
Notice the David Rabb nude above, I’ll now be selling this,(see his works and interesting background on my website) replacing with a larger Mali Moir masterpiece. I’ll also be selling the previous country oak chest, last photo.
Also see the other David Rabb in my entrance.
I have about ten 18th century chests in stock, so shall do a post on them next week.

The Johnston Collection 2010 – The Kitchen

The Kitchen:

The applied wall shelving was highlighted dark green and gold, from memory. We suggested to re paint to blend with the existing wall colour.
Bridget Evans and Suzi Mann, cut back and re painted them, while the furniture was being placed. I had such a wonderful team back in 2010.
Having the best suited assistance is imperative when running a specialist business.
As you can see how nice they now blend in, rather than fighting for attention with ceramics.
We were very proud of this change.

Bridget also placed the Staffordshire figures throughout. Truly gifted✨

2010 I was invited to re-arrange the entire contents of The Johnston Collection, to create my own interpretation and to give visitors to the house a fresh experience.

Visually for me sometimes less is more and my initial reaction was to lighten the content.

Thus began a process as an example, I placed one painting where previously there had been two, lots of subtle changes. I certainly don’t appreciate minimalism but on the other hand, I don’t like a cluttered appearance.

Most people have a preference for a certain style, whether decorative 18th -19th Century French or Victorian furniture, Deco or my particular love for the 16th – 19th Century English and Continental

country furniture also art, treen, ceramics and pewter from the same periods. When decorating a very important point is to be patient and thereby hopefully avoiding any future mistakes and regrets.

Consult with your favourite dealer or decorator who are usually happy to share their knowledge and contacts. It’s often helpful to look through magazines to get ideas of a certain style you prefer.

There are several exceptional pieces in the collection, I would say the 18th Century English walnut longcase clock is my favourite. It was traditionally in the narrow hallway where it could be shown to it’s full potential. I decided to move it to the drawing room, where it has ample wall space framing it and is immediately visible when entering the room. When you enter a house or foyer of a building I love to be bowled over by the immediate impact of that special piece, that first impression is so important.

Keep in mind you can mix antiques and modern pieces very effectively in either a contempory or traditional setting.

I much appreciated the talented assistance of Bridget Evans, placing many of the ceramics throughout, especially in the “Serpentine Room” & Kitchen.

The Johnston Collection 2010 – Mr Johnston’s Study

2010 I was invited to re-arrange the entire contents of The Johnston Collection, to create my own interpretation and to give visitors to the house a fresh experience.

I heard about the Johnston collection many years ago and on seeing it was ‘enthralled’ by the overall quality and uniqueness of Mr Johnston’s collection.

Visually for me sometimes less is more and my initial reaction was to lighten the content. Thus began a process as an example, I placed one painting where previously there had been two, lots of subtle changes. I certainly don’t appreciate minimalism but on the other hand, I don’t like a cluttered appearance.

There are several exceptional pieces in the collection, I would say the 18th Century English walnut longcase clock is my favourite. It was traditionally in the narrow hallway where it could be shown to it’s full potential. I decided to move it to the drawing room, where it has ample wall space framing it and is immediately visible when entering the room.

Most people have a preference for a certain style, whether decorative 18th -19th Century French or Victorian furniture, Deco or my particular love for the 16th – 19th Century English and Continental country furniture also art, treen, ceramics and pewter from the same periods.

When decorating a very important point is to be patient and thereby hopefully avoiding any future mistakes and regrets. Consult with your favourite dealer or decorator who are usually happy to share their knowledge and contacts. It’s often helpful to look through magazines to get ideas of a certain style you like.

When you enter a house or foyer of a building I love to be bowled over by the immediate impact of that special piece, that first impression is so important. Keep in mind you can mix antiques and modern pieces very effectively in either a contempory or traditional setting.

I much appreciated the talented assistance of Bridget Evans, placing many of the ceramics throughout, especially in the “Serpentine Room” & Kitchen.

The Johnston Collection 2010 – The Yellow Room

2010 I was invited to re-arrange the entire contents of The Johnston Collection, to create my own interpretation and to give visitors to the house a fresh experience.

I heard about the Johnston collection many years ago and on seeing it was ‘enthralled’ by the overall quality and uniqueness of Mr Johnston’s collection.

Visually for me sometimes less is more and my initial reaction was to lighten the content. Thus began a process as an example, I placed one painting where previously there had been two, lots of subtle changes. I certainly don’t appreciate minimalism but on the other hand, I don’t like a cluttered appearance.

There are several exceptional pieces in the collection, I would say the 18th Century English walnut longcase clock is my favourite. It was traditionally in the narrow hallway where it could be shown to it’s full potential. I decided to move it to the drawing room, where it has ample wall space framing it and is immediately visible when entering the room.

Most people have a preference for a certain style, whether decorative 18th -19th Century French or Victorian furniture, Deco or my particular love for the 16th – 19th Century English and Continental country furniture also art, treen, ceramics and pewter from the same periods.

When decorating a very important point is to be patient and thereby hopefully avoiding any future mistakes and regrets. Consult with your favourite dealer or decorator who are usually happy to share their knowledge and contacts. It’s often helpful to look through magazines to get ideas of a certain style you like.

When you enter a house or foyer of a building I love to be bowled over by the immediate impact of that special piece, that first impression is so important. Keep in mind you can mix antiques and modern pieces very effectively in either a contempory or traditional setting.

I much appreciated the talented assistance of Bridget Evans, placing many of the ceramics throughout, especially in the “Serpentine Room” & Kitchen.